Chapter 13

Knuckles led them down a path that wound around the large mountain in the center of the island. "The Chaos Emerald lies in the middle of the mountain but we have to get to the cave entrance. Since you guys can't dig as I can."

"No, we certainly cannot dig as you can." Robotnik laughed at the observation. "I think you'll find your talent will be well-appreciated in the city. If you choose to come with us."

"I'm thinking about it, really. I've just lived here for so long. It's familiar." Knuckles shrugged. "Besides… protecting the Emerald is a great honor, you know. Great-Grandpa Athair said it's the highest honor that could be bestowed on one."

Robotnik listened intently and replied. "Oh, of course, it is a great honor. You think about it. No matter what you decide, I will do my best to see that you will not be lonely anymore. I will do right by you this time."

"This time? You mean, you knew me in your future too?" He asked him. "Did you roboticize me too?"

"No, actually. I nearly did but you got away. Afterward, you were no threat to me. Because you were isolated here." Robotnik explained. "But it's not right that you are isolated here. I should have been trying to help you then so…"

Knuckles nodded. "Hey, for what it's worth, you're off to a great start. I heard rumors about you. Aleena told me all about you. Nightmare stories when she came to visit. And all about Sonia and how she would probably enjoy living here with me after the war was over. Because it's so peaceful here." He looked down.

"Well, you could see that she's not exactly thrilled with my son as her son-in-law," Robotnik explained. "It's sad. She was one of the very few friends that I've ever had. She was on our side. I threw that friendship away. Perhaps for good."

"Did you, Robotnik?" Oracle asked as he kept up with them. "I think if you take it one step at a time, be patient. You'll get your friend back. But even if you don't, that's not wholly on you. All you can do is what's right for you and your family. If she chooses not to forgive, it's on her." He turned his eyes to Knuckles.

In the middle of the pack, Sleet walked with Manic. The gold eyes looked into his. "Now it makes sense. Your second chance. I wondered…"

Sleet nodded. "I'm not that coward anymore. I'm not going to let fear stop me again. I could have saved you three. Dingo had the perfect plan but I didn't trust it. I didn't trust him. He thought to take you three to Bartleby. I didn't want to put him in danger too but if I'd taken the chance…" He looked down. "I could have saved you but I was too afraid to stand up for what was right."

Manic studied the guilty face. He took his hand for a moment. "Hey, if it helps, I forgive you. As long as you know you made a mistake and you've resolved not to do it again then it wasn't in vain at least." He pulled his hand away, just in case the wolf was offended by his forwardness.

The wolf nodded. "Thank you… That is a weight off my shoulders at least." He looked up as he heard thunder. "Hey, I think it's getting ready to rain!"

Knuckles nodded. "Yeah, let's take this detour. There's a shallow cave nearby that I use to hide from the storms this place gets."

They let Knuckles lead them off of the path and hugged the base of the mountain until they reached a sculpted out cave. Robotnik looked around. "You made this, didn't you? You have a strong hand." He studied the cave and chuckled at the shapes of faces and bodies.

Knuckles nodded. "When you live alone, you have to do something. I've been sculpting the mountain. Those two are the warrior gods, Athena and Ares."

"Wow! This is amazing work!" Bartleby said. "Oh my goodness!" He studied the work intently.

The echidna nodded and began beating out a small section, within moments, sculpting out Athena's faithful owl on her shoulder. "I carve out a little more here and there, wherever it feels right."

Sonia sat down on a log that sat strategically around a firepit. "Athena and Ares… I think I remember them. They were both fighting over an expanse of the land. They each had their own cities but either wanted the other's kingdom too."

"Very good, Princess. You always were the brightest out of your siblings." Robotnik praised her.

Aleena nodded. "I'm afraid I don't know the story. If… if it's a human story my father didn't let me learn it."

"Well, then you missed out." Knuckles said conclusively. "I know all of those stories. The Chaos Emeralds tell the tales so often. Of the great Ares and Athena and of other great heroes. A half-man half-god who was stronger than a hundred men named Hercules. And Maui, the trickster god of the islands. He used a great fish to pull the islands up out of the ocean so people could use them and that he lassoed the sun to make the days longer. Stories from all cultures and religions. The Emerald tells me about how humans fought over which religion was best or which set of stories was really the right one." He sighed as he looked at the wall. "It is said that the gods of all of those cultures finally got together declared they'd had their fill of the bickering and they left the humans to themselves. Well, one side used a great power that just broke the Earth." He indicated the world around them. "In fighting over the land and what way was right and wrong, they just destroyed themselves. The gods withdrew their guidance and blessings."

Aleena and Robotnik looked at each other while Dingo laughed. "That sounds familiar. Fighting over it's stupid…" He said innocently. "I don't like fighting really." He looked up at the gray, storming sky as lightning flashed across. "Wow, did you see that one?"

"Do you like storms, Dingo?" Aleena asked curiously.

"Yep. They're free entertainment after all. The flashing lightning and the rumbling that follows." He said, chuckling with embarrassment at what Sleet would call his froo-froo talk. "Sorry, Sleet's always saying I over-analyze things…"

She shook her head. "I don't think so. It's insightful. You have a talent for philosophy, Mr. Dingo."

Dingo blushed. "Nahhh…. Really, I'm not talented at that sort of thing. I'm not very smart at all." He admitted.

Sleet nodded. "Yeah, he's a bit of a moron. But that's what I'm here for. It's not his fault. I couldn't afford to send him to school."

Aleena shot him a look. "If you believe that then no wonder he doubts himself. Dingo, let me tell you. My late husband, Jules, he didn't attend one day of school in his whole life. He taught himself out of books and just by doing." She saw Robotnik tense at the mention of her husband. "He was very bright. Do you like to read?"

The jackal nodded. "Oh yeah, I love books. My favorite's The Jungle Book because it has a human boy being raised by wolves. I also like Treasure Island. I wanted to be a pirate on board the Hispaniola or Hawkins in search of treasure and a better life." He looked away, embarrassed at revealing what he thought a dark secret.

The queen smiled. "See, you are very smart. It takes intelligence to be able to read and comprehend the tales."

"But they're just fairytales," Sleet asked. "Not real knowledge… Surely, they're a waste of energy."

She rolled her eyes. "Fiction, even fantasy, holds a great deal of knowledge." Dingo's green eyes lit up. The hedgehog queen thought that he was smart. She pat his hand supportively. "Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are less than you know you are."

The jackal blushed as he took in her kind words. He could finally see how she could be Sonia's mother. She was nice and she was pretty. A stronger hand touched his shoulder. "Dingo and I should scout ahead. Just in case." Sleet dragged his brother away from the group and up the path out of sight. "Okay, I know you're not thinking about going after her. Right?"

Dingo gaped. "I… I don't know what you mean… I was just thinking how nice she was and you can see where Sonia gets her beauty." He stammered before a hand met his temple. "Ow…"

"Because you always do this, Dingo. Anytime some girl is remotely nice to you, you fall in love with. And it's worse this time, Dingo! She's five years older than me!" Sleet scolded him. "She's off-limits."

Dingo's eyes went wide. "What? No, no, don't even. Five years older than you, still puts us in at least the same decade. Five years older than you means you're still thirteen years older than Manic, her son. You do not get to do that, Sleet! You keep going on about your redemption, your second chance. Maybe this is mine! With someone that I might have a chance with." He wasn't going to let Sleet dictate him anymore. He was a grown wolf.

"You really think that you have a chance with the queen? Dingo, don't be a dope. You'll end up getting yourself hurt again." He said pleadingly. "Forget her age, consider who she is. She's Sonia's mother. This is just a rebound. You're just going to get yourself hurt."

Dingo growled as they heard the sound of surging water. They came to a river running through their path and thanks to the storm, it was very high.

"I was worried about this." Knuckles said as he ran up. "I came after you made the suggestion. I realized… It's rained a lot lately. Damn… the bridge is out. Let's go tell the others."

As they turned around, Sleet whispered. "We'll continue this later." He would not let his brother make such a horrible mistake.

Dingo glared, resolving not to say another word. He was nothing but supportive of his brother but it was starting to become obvious that his brother didn't respect him. He loved him, Dingo didn't doubt that but he deserved better. His brother wasn't always right.

On getting back to the group, they were discussing the options. Knuckles was using a stick to draw out a map. "This is still the easiest path, we would just need to swim the river."

Sonic shook his head. "No, no. I don't swim. I can't swim…" He trembled violently at the mention.

"Sonic, it's the best way." Sonia urged. "I know you were afraid of water as a hedgehog, but we're human now. Swimming will be easier now."

Knuckles nodded. "We would just need to wait about an hour for the river to die down. It doesn't take too long and it's very calm water." He said reassuringly.

Aleena shook her head. "We shouldn't force him to swim if it frightens him." She looked at Robotnik. "You said I needed to listen to my son."

The scientist rolled his eyes. "I was talking about making him eat something he's allergic to. Swimming is completely different. Swimming is a survival skill and it's time he learned." He put a hand on Sonic's shoulder. "I can teach you."

Sonic looked to and fro while Aleena countered. "But it's not just fear, it's a phobia. He's not going to be able to learn to swim when he's so scared." She rubbed his back soothingly.

"Aleena! This is not going to be the first time he needs to swim. It's not the first time! If he doesn't learn, it could kill him!" Robotnik snapped. "His fear of water almost got him caught on many occasions. Sonic, if you learn how to swim, you won't have to fear the water anymore. But learning to swim is the only way to get past it."

Sonic looked up at him. It sounded like he meant it. For the first time, he heard the sincerity in his voice. "And you can teach me?"

"I can. Knuckles says the water will be calm in about an hour now that the rain has stopped and it'll be the perfect place to start. Once you learn as a human, you'll be able to carry that over when you become a hedgehog again. And the water will hold no further fear for you." Robotnik promised.

The boy thought about it for several minutes. Aleena stroked his hair, assuring him that she wouldn't force him. "I… I'll try." He promised. "I can't promise more."

Robotnik nodded affirmatively. "I won't force you. I just ask that you make an effort."

Manic and Sonia took their places on either side of him. "We'll be there with you. Just try." Sonia reassured her.

As Knuckles promised, the river soon tapered back to its normal flow until their particular location was calm enough to swim. Carefully, the chaos guardian led them into the shallow river bank. One by one, they entered until it was just Robotnik and the now-trembling boy. He knew they were adults but Robotnik knew that Sonic, at least, was still just a boy. The only one he had to teach him to be a man was someone who should never be allowed to care for children. At least in his opinion.

He got into the water first and turned to face him. "Look, it's shallow. You won't have to do much swimming at all. All you have to do is walk through it."

Sonic looked at his siblings, seeing the water only reaching their waist. "Okay… I…" He reached out a foot but pulled it back. His eyes went distant and he pulled back. "No, no, I can't. I can't do it. What if I go under and I can't come back up. What if it's deeper out there and…" He panted.

The scientist shook his head. "You have to at least try. You promised to try. Trying means at least getting in the water. If you really can't handle it once you're in, we'll get you right back out. I will not let you go under." He reached out a hand.

Sonic studied the hand and carefully took it, offering his trust to the man. They both knew it was tenuous trust and would be shattered if he did anything to hurt the boy or his siblings again. He closed his eyes and put his foot into the water, letting the man lead him across.

"That's it, you're doing it. This part is easy… savor it…" Robotnik told him. "You're walking in the water."

The hand trembled as he pulled away, looking around as the water went up to his waist. "I…. I'm in the water…" He looked down at the water and his eyes went distant again. "No! No! I can't! I have to get out of the water." He tried to run the opposite direction but his foot caught and he slipped. He went down into the water and began flailing, desperate to get out.

Aleena, Sonia, and Manic instinctively jumped to help but Sleet and Dingo stopped them from interfering. "Too many cooks." Sleet reminded Aleena.

Robotnik reached for his hand. "Sonic, stop flailing or you'll make it worse. Stand up." He pushed as he finally managed to take the hand and help him struggle to a standing position. "You get across, I'll help him."

Sonic cried out as he went under the water covering him and for a moment he could see Uncle Chuck standing over him and he tried to scream but got a mouthful of water instead. Finally, he felt arms lifting him up and out. He coughed up water as he felt himself being placed on the bank. A big hand patted hard at his back.

"Can you breathe?" The familiar gruff voice asked as he calmed down, sitting on the bank.

He looked up across the river at his family. He wanted his brother and sister but they were all the way on the other side of the river. And he couldn't get across. "I'm sorry… I just can't…" Long-blue hair dripped with saturation as he buried his head in his knees.

Robotnik shook his head. "No, not like this. But you tried and I'm… I'm proud of you. Just for trying."

Green-eyes tilted up. "Really?" The question surprised the old man. Did the boy really care that much about what he thought of him?

Knuckles' voice caught his ear and he turned around. "Go upriver, towards the mountainside. There is a cave that connects to this side of the river. It's a little dangerous but there's a bridge you should be able to cross. I know where the cave comes out. We'll meet you there."

Robotnik nodded. Sonic would need to learn to swim but this fear was more than just a basic phobia. It was going to take more than just a walk across the river. The boy couldn't even handle that yet.

AN: Will Sonic ever conquer his fear of the water? Does Dingo stand a chance with Aleena or is Sleet right?